Further Exploring the Public Health Implications of the Network Scale-Up Method: Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Liwei Jing1, Hongmei Yu1, Qing Lu2
1Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, 56 South XinJian Road, Taiyuan, 030001, China, 86 03514135049.
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
|August 23, 2024
Summary
The network scale-up method (NSUM) effectively estimates the population size of people who inject drugs and reveals their social network characteristics. This aids in planning accessible HIV prevention services for this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Slowing decline in new adult HIV infections hinders 2030 epidemic control goals.
- United Nations proposed 90% access to HIV prevention for high-risk groups.
- Accurate population size estimation is crucial for effective HIV prevention planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- Explore public health implications of the network scale-up method (NSUM).
- Estimate population size, popularity ratio, and information transmission rate among people who inject drugs (PWID).
Main Methods:
- Conducted a stratified 2-stage cluster survey of the general population.
- Employed respondent-driven sampling for people who inject drugs in Taiyuan, China (2021).
Main Results:
- Estimated Taiyuan's PWID population at 1241.9 (0.044% of adults 15-64).
- Estimated PWID popularity ratio at 53.6% and information transmission rate at 87.9%.
Conclusions:
- NSUM estimates PWID population size and reveals smaller social networks and concealed drug use.
- These insights are vital for designing accessible HIV prevention services for PWID.
- NSUM offers cost-effective public health implications, enhancing its application potential.
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